The New Crop – Rep. Susi Hamilton

The Republican takeover of the N.C. legislature, the first time the GOP has led both houses since 1898, is a huge shift in power that’s brought a lot of new faces, and people new to doing business on Jones Street. In what we hope is a regular feature this session, N.C. Policy Watch will try to talk with some of the newest members to offer a bit more insight on who they are and what they plan on doing this session in Raleigh. This will be an ongoing feature, with the goal of profiling all the new members. Haven’t been contacted for your profile yet? New legislators can contact reporter Sarah Ovaska at sarah@ncpolicywatch.com.

Organizations (charities, churches, civic groups) you’re active in: on the board of Carousel Center for Abused Children in Wilmington; American Society for Public Administrators; Historic Wilmington Foundation; North Carolina Downtown Development Association, Regional VP from 2004-2007; Junior League of Wilmington; Wilmington Rotary Club; Wilmington Children’s Museum Board of Directors, Cucalorus Film Festival Board of Directors

Biggest political influences: Bill Clinton

Hobbies: anything involving the ocean, reading, playing with her daughter

Any pet peeves?: “My husband leaves his socks all over the house.”

How you plan on unwinding from the legislative grind? “I do read a lot. Reading really does help me relax.”

Why’d you run?: “I have a strong sense of public service and had been in the private sector for the past three years. I really wanted to work in public service again. I feel this is a natural fit for me. Some people are gifted speakers, gifted teachers. I’m someone who does well in a public policy environment.”

What are you expecting from this session? “Lots of anxiety over the budget woes. A lot of people have families that are going to be negatively affected. It’s going to be a tough session, people are going to have to make sacrifices. I want to work to protect teachers and the public school system. The foundation for economic development is having a well-educated work force.”

About the author

Sarah Ovaska-Few, former Investigative Reporter for N.C. Policy Watch for five years, conducted investigations and watchdog reports into issues of statewide importance. Ovaska-Few was also staff writer and reporter for six years with the News & Observer in Raleigh, where she reported on governmental, legal, political and criminal justice issues.